Monday, June 16, 2014

Monarch Book Cover

Monarch

I often use vintage book covers to create new books from scratch. In my stash is this beautiful cover, with naturally-aged marbled paper and leather accents. It seemed to me that elements from Spellbinders A Gilded Life collection would be the perfect match.

I started by cutting and embossing pewter foil paper using the Petite Monarch die.

With a love of metal accents, I decided to attach the die cut using both adhesive and metal brads. I lined up the die cut to the leather edge of the book cover and marked six holes with a pen using the pre-cut holes in the die cut as a guide.

Using an awl, I created holes through the cover to allow for the brad prongs.

Both glue and the metallic brads will hold the die cut to the surface of the book cover.

I distressed the die cut by running a sanding block over the embossed surface and adding some matte black paint using my fingers.

Using Spellbinders Antique Corner die,  I cut and embossed the same pewter foil into a beautiful, filigreed shape. My idea was not to use it as a corner though.

I used the Antique Corner die cut as a template and cut the same shape out of a piece of hand painted paper that I had. 

I backed the die cut with the paper and then distressed the foil as above, with a sanding block and some matte black acrylic paint.

I adhered this piece to the edge of the book cover, opposite to the side of the Petit Monarch die cut.

At this point in the process, there is how the book cover looked.

Continuing to embellish the cover, I used 5 elements from Spellbinders A Gilded Life Relics -- 2 of the same elements from set A and 3 of the same elements from set B.

These elements were glued horizontally onto the points of the Petit Monarch die cut on the edge of the book cover.

To match the aged looked of the book cover, I distressed the Relics using a sanding block and a bit of iridescent bronze acrylic paint.

My next step was to create corners for the book cover using the same handmade paper I had chosen earlier. I cut out 2 corner shapes using 1 die from Spellbinders Gold Corbels and Accents set.

These were then glued onto the upper and lower right corners of the book cover.

The last element for the book cover was created by using die #1 from Spellbinders A2 Filigree Delight. Two pieces of pewter foil were cut and the outer portion of the die cuts saved. In addition, a vintage book page with Latin text was cut into 2 pieces using the same die, but only the inner portion of the die cuts were used for this project.

The foil was distressed with a sanding block and the paper was altered with dye ink.

The two parts of the die cut were put together and both were adhered to the book.

Now complete, my project - titled Monarch - will now be waiting to become the cover of the next hand bound book I make.





Monarch
----------------------------

Supply List

Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:

GC-001 Spellbinders® Grand Calibur® Die Cutting and Embossing Machine
GC-015 Spellbinders® Grand Calibur® Junior Magnetic Placement Mat
GLLD-001Spellbinders® A Gilded Life Petit Monarch Die
S2-072 Spellbinders® Shapeabilities® Antique Corner Die 
S4-432 Spellbinders® Shapeabilities® Gold Corbels and Accent Die 
S5-177 Spellbinders® Nestabilities® A2 Filigree Delight Die
GLR-001 Spellbinders®A Gilded Life Relics A
GLR-002 Spellbinders®A Gilded Life Relics B
GLF-001 Spellbinders® A Gilded Life Foil Pack

Preferred Promotional Partners: Tsukineko® Memento Dew Drop Dye Ink Pad, Imagine Crafts® Inkblushers Sponge

Other: vintage book cover, hand painted paper, vintage book page, pen, awl, metal brads, sanding block, acrylic paint, adhesive, scissor

25 comments:

PocketSize said...

OMG that's beautiful! You know how much I love old books, and that cover is a particularly beautiful one to begin with. Your embellishments really enhance it without obscuring too much of its original beauty. Fantastic piece! And now I see a couple of dies I must invest in, too. That edging is swoonworthy!

Anonymous said...

Seth,
What a stunning project and amazing process pictures and description. Thank you for sharing your process, creativity, and mad skills!! I'm curious to see what happens next to this beautiful cover….
xx
Gabrielle

Maryanne said...

What a fantastic book cover! It was beautiful before you embellished it but now it's been taken to another level!! You use the dies so effectively, too. Beautiful, Seth, I love it!!!

snipsandsnalilandpuppydogtails said...

Wow, Seth! This is stunning!

Claudine said...

Wow, this is stunningly beautiful. I love how you've transformed this cover in just a few steps. Thanks for taking us through your process.

Hastypearl said...

DO. YOU. SLEEP? :) fav part...your handmade paper, of course! Great step out tutorial! Laura

john said...

This turned out smashingly!

trish quilty said...

This is the best Seth. Just amazing. Cannot wait to see what you create using that book cover. I love it. Someone asked if you sleep. I dont think you do either!!! :)

elle said...

I shouldn't read comments. They always eliminate my chosen superlatives. I'm working to identify my passion and I believe this is the capital P and my beginning. Making my own books!!! Thank you so much for your process.

Sharon W. said...

Wouldn't it be nice to experience that "tutorial" in person? Possible workshop? hint hint.

Jo Murray said...

SO cool...straight out of some medieval castle.

Cappuccinoandartjournal.blogspot.com said...

Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing how you did it. I have a collection of old cover that I want to use too -- now I just need to get busy.

Jackie PN said...

What a Gorgeous transformation! Really looks like it came from an old castle-belonging to a king or queen! Stunning!

Carol said...

Just gorgeous Seth, very inspirational! Are you bringing all these stencils to Australia? I can see the need to buy. These are just fabulous!

Brian Kasstle said...

What a wonderful book! It is so beautiful!

Bill said...

Wow. So beautiful!

Caterina Giglio said...

Just gorgeous...

mamablitger said...

Seth... This book cover is just fabolous, amazing, gorgeous !! How many superlatives do I need to describe how amazing this book cover turned out. Wow... You are truly talented !
Thanks a lot for sharing this stunning project.
Now just wondering how to afford all these Spellbinders dies... Sigh... Lol
Hugs from SPAIN

Nan G said...

Very cool! Must remember to look for old books when I go button hunting at the flea. This would make a great stand alone piece, too. Thanks again for your creative inspiration!

Christine Kiehl said...

Amazing altered book!

rivergardenstudio said...

This is gorgeous Seth!
roxanne

Create Beauty with Laurajo said...

Seth, Your book cover is AMAZING! It truly is so gorgeous. I love the Monarch Die and it is on the very top of my wish list. Thank you for sharing the tutorial and I do hope you post your completed book project, when done. I can only dream of its beauty.

Gina Pisello said...

Great cover Seth. I live all the intricate dies you used. It makes me realize I need to bump up my stash of dies. Thanks for sharing.

Heather said...

wow Seth, just amazing. what a fatabulous project.

barbara macaskill said...

This is absolutely incredible! Love all of the aging that you have done. I am always in awe when I see what you create!